Motor mount



March 13, 1951 J. CUTHBERTSON 2,544,778

MOTOR MOUNT Filed July 28, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. L01 Cezakeratsozz March 1951 L. J. CUTHBERTSON 2,544,778

MOTOR MOUNT I Filed July 28, 1947 SSheets-Sheet 2 March 13, 1951 CUTHBERTSQN 2,544,778

MOTOR MOUNT FiledJ uly 28, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica MOTOR MOUNT Leonard J. Cuthbertson, Girard, Kans. Application July 28, 1947, Serial No. 764,108 7 (Cl. 24823) 13 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a motor mount. The invention is particularly concerned with a mount for small electric motors ranging from one-sixteenth to one-half horse power, and more particularly for those of one-fourth, one-third and one-half horse power.

This small type motor has a wide range of use, since it is employed for driving numerous forms of work shop tools in factories as well as in private homes, and such motors find many other diversified uses commercially as well as in and around private homes and farms.

In instances where a plurality of machines or tools are used, such as in home work shops, including saws, sanders, grinders, bufiers, tool grinders, mover sickle grinders, etc., it is the common practice to provide each such machine or tool with a driving motor, and this practice applies also to motor-driven machines and tools in commercial use.

The provision of a motor for each individual machine or tool is an expensive proposition. Thus, the conventional one-quarter horse power motor together with a belt and pulley represent an investment of several dollars and often more than the cost of some machines or tools to be driven thereby.

In instances where several motor-driven machines or tools are provided, as, for example, in

home work shops, usually only one such machine or tool is used at any one time, and in fact it may well be that one or more of such machines or tools is used seasonally or on rare occasions, and thus the individual drive motor therefor renders very little service.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a motor mount, in the use of which a single motor may be readily transported from one machine or tool to another and operatively connected therewith for driving same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a motor mount including a supporting member adapted for rigid connection to a machine or bench and a motor base member adapted for rigid connection with a motor base, and the motor base member being removably supported on the supporting member, whereby the motor with its attached base member may be readily transported and supported on a similar supporting member associated with another machine or tool.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a motor mount including supporting rail having provision for attachment to a machine or bench by means of bolts engaging the same holes previously used in attaching a motor in position, and base plates for rigid connection with the motor base and adapted for sliding support on the supporting rails.

A still further object of this invention i the provision of a motor mount of the above noted character wherein means are provided for readily adjusting belt tension.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved motor mount in accordance with one structura1 embodiment thereof, the view being approiiimately one-half actual size. V

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mount.

Figure 3 is an inside elevational view of the uppermost section of the mount shown in Figure 1 and being on a larger scale. i

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the supporting rails.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the motor mount shown in position on a bench with a motor sup--- ported thereon.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 1 disclosing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is an enlarged underside sectional view showing the application of the motor base plate clamping means.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional View in the plane of line 8-8, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section in the plane of line 9-9, Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the fixed element of the clamp.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the movable element of the clamp.

,Figure12 is a top plan View of a still further modified form of the improved motor mount, the view being approximately one-half actual size.

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional View in'th'e plane of line -l3l 3, Figure- 12.

Figure 14 is-a bottom plan view of one of the supportingrails. x I

Figure; 15 is' a vertical sectional view in the plane of line |5-|5, Figure 13. j

Referring now in detail to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 5 thereof, in which is illustrated the first embodiment of the invention, I0 designates a pair of supporting rails and H, designates a pair of motor base plates cooperating with the supporting rails.

Each supportiing rail I0 is of generally channel construction andincludes a. horizontal base portion I2 which may terminate in a reinforcing flange or bead l2, a vertical portion 13, and a horizontal portion l4 disposed above and in vertically spaced relation to the horizontal portion I2. The horizontal portions I 3 provide supporting flanges for the motor base plates H, and the horizontal portions H are substantially wider than portions l4 and are provided with elongated bolt receiving apertures l5.

The rails i'fl-are' rigidly connected to a machine or a bench E (Figure 5) by means of bolts 55 extending through the apertures l5, and the bolts are provided with nuts (5 bearing on washers IS.

The motor base plates I l are alsoprovided with elongated apertures I! through which are extended bolts H! for securing the base "b of' niotor M to the base plates, the bolts being provided with nuts 18 and washers 18''.

The motor base plates comprise relativel wide motor base-supporting portions having at their opposed outer edges vertical guide flanges l5} ter minating in outwardly flared portions 2b, as is more particularly indicated in Figure 5.

The "motor M is preferably providednvith a handle H which is broken away in Figure-'5; but which-is of closed loop formation and is adapted for carrying the motor from one operative position'to-another, as well'as for wrapping of the electric cord therearound. The handle is preferably secured to the motor'base'b by means of the bolts i8.

*The'baseplates H are adapted to rest'by gravity'on'ithe flanges M ofthesupporting rails'lt, particularly when the "direction'oi drive issubstantially horizontal, the weight of the motor 'beingsufficient to retain same in operative posi- 'tion.

"-Ihdflanges 19 on the base plates engage the outer walls of the vertical portions 13 of the supporting rails 18 I and thus confine the motor against lateral movement.

-In' order'to precludemovement of the motor longitudinally of the rails and towa-rds the machine or tool being driven as wellas for provid- -1- ing -and'maintain'ing proper tension in the-driving belt, af-stopll is provided on eachrail Hi, and such stops are adjustable longitudinally of the rails.

Each stop includes the stop portion proper 2!, 1 which engages the forward end of the respective base plate ll, a horizontal portion 22 disposed beneath "and in engagement with flangeld, a vertical portion 23 engaging the inner-wall of the-vertical portion [3 of the rail, and a horizontal portion 24 engaging the horizontal portion A nut 25 is rigidly secured as by welding to the inner face of the'vertical portion k 23' in 'axial alinementwith' an-apei'tui'e in said verti'calportion," and a 'bolt"=26 extends through the aperture into"threadedengagement with the nut 25, and

the bolt extends through an-elongated slot zl in -the'jverticalportion l3. of the IEtil l0. With this construction, the stops 2! may bereadily'adju'sted longitudinally of-the rails for vemlable length drive belts and for properly tensioning the belts.

This improved motor mount provides for use relation to the machines'or tools to be driven by means of the bolts l6.

this point; it is to. be :observed thatz motor bases, particularly with respect to the smaller motors ranging up to three-quarters horse power, have been or are rapidly being standardized, and accordingly the bolts It may be extended through the same holes provided in the machine or bench for the reception of the bolts which previously held a motor thereto. At any rate, the variations in motor base dimensions of this class .of motors is slight, and i. accordingly by the provision'of separaterails andibase plates,

together with the elongated bolt-receiving apertures l5 and H, the motor mount may readily be assembled by use of the existing motorattaching bolt holes.

A pair of rails Ill will be properly secured in position adjacent each machine or tool to be motor driven.

Apair of the base plates H will be rigidly fastened by means of the bolts l8 to a base b of a motor M suitable for driving any of such machines or tools, and thus the motor may be readily transported from one to the other of an assembled pair of rails 10 for operative connection with the machine or tool adjacent thereto.

It is to be observed that the bolts (5 and 1B are vertically alined longitudinally of the mount, whereby the assembled base plates will accuratelyengage the supporting rails, and the outwardly flared portions 20 act as guides to direct the base plates into position on the rails.

Further emphasizing the original application of the improved motor mount to a bench or machine, holes for the reception of the supportjlng'raihsecuring-bolts Iii-may exist,'but if not the mount can be positionedfor proper motor belt alinement and tension by marking and drilling holes for reception of the bolts 16.

Preferably, the bolts l5 are originally placed intermediate the ends of apertures l5 and then clamped just snugly. The motor, together with the base plates l I may then be placed on therails and the railsand plates so alined and spaced that the rails just fit snugly inside the base plate flanges I9 with sufiicient clearance only to permit the base plates to slide freely on the supporting rails. The rails arenow securely clamped by the bolts 16.

The belt is then'placed on the driving-and driven pulleys and the motor with its attached base plates moved on the rails in a direction away from the machine or tool being driven to effect proper belt tensioning. Now the stops 2| are movedinto contact'with the advance ends of the base plates and clamped in positionby bolts 26.

The proper-belttension having now been attained, thestops 2| neednot be further adjusted until. the belt becomes worn. and stretched or in the event" of the substitution of :a different length belt.

When it is desired to remove the motor from driving connection with any one machine or tool, the motor maybe tipped forwardly, that is, by pivoting-of theforward ends of the base "plates on the stops 2|, wherebythe motor drive pulley-approaches the driven pulley, with a resulting slackness in the belt sufiicient to permit be operated.

The base plates will fall accurately into position on the rails. The motor, together with the base plates I I, is moved forwardly until the base plates contact the pre-adjusted stops 2! and the motor is then tipped forwardly for approach of its pulley to the driven pulley, whereby the belt may be readily positioned on the pulley. The motor is then dropped back with the base plates in full engagement with the rails with a resulting proper tension in the belt. The cord is then plugged in and the motor set into operation.

A motor canbe transported from one operative position to another in a very short time.

The modified construction according to Figures 6 to 11 is adapted for use wherein the drive has a vertical component with a tendency for raising the motor ofi? the supportin rails Ii), while also providing for proper belt tensioning. The rails and motor base plates in accordance with this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, but are preferably somewhat longer. However, those of the first embodiment may be of the same length as those of the second embodiment.

In Figures 6 to 11, the supporting rails are designated 30 and the motor base plates designated 3!. The base plates may have marginal reinforcing beads or flanges 3|, and such may be incorporated in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5.

The rails 30 each includes a horizontal base portion 32, a vertical portion 33, and a base plate supporting portion or flange 34, which is substantially narrower than the horizontal base portion 32 and which is preferably provided with a reinforcing flange 32.

The rails 30 are, of course, provided with boltreceiving elongated apertures in their base portions 32 as in the first embodiment for securing the rails in operative position.

The motor base plates 3| are provided withelongated apertures 3'! for receiving bolts to secure such plates to the motor base as in the first embodiment. The base plates are provided with guide flanges 39 terminating in positioning flared portions 40.

Preferably, the rails 30 are provided with stops 4! having securing bolts &5 as in the first embodiment, whereby the rails 36 may be used in both the first embodiment and the one now being described.

In this embodiment, clamps are provided for retaining the base plates 3! against horizontal and vertical movement relative to the rails 30, and as indicated in Figure 6, one such clamp is sufficient for each plate and cooperating rail, with the clamps disposed at opposite ends of the two cooperating plate and rail structures.

Each clamp comprises a channel member 4'! rigidly secured to the under face of a respective base plate 3i and preferably abuttin the reinforcing flange 3!. The member 4? is provided with an open-ended elongated slot 48, and a second channel member s9 is slidably disposed in the fixed channel member 41.

The head 58 of a bolt 5! is rigidly secured in the channel of member 49, and the bolt extends through an aperture 52 in the base of channel member 49, through the slot 38, and through an elongated slot 53 in the base plate 3|.

A hand-operable nut is provided for bolt 5!, the same preferably comprisin an elongated U- shaped member 54 having its lower legs integral with or rigidly connected with a washer and a nut 56.

It is to be observed that the base of channel member 4? is shown of the same thickness as the supporting flange 34 of the rail, but in actual practice the flange 34 is slightly the thicker, whereby same will be rigidly clamped between plate 3| and the channel member 49 when in the position of Figure 9.

The clamp is shown in inoperative position in Figure 7 and also in operative position in dotted lines. The clamps are moved to the fullline position in Figure 7 when it is desired to remove the motor with its base plates 3| from the rails 36, and when it is desired to lock the base plates in position with the belt properly adjusted the clamps are moved to the position of Figure 9. While only two of the clampsare necessary, the plates 3! are preferably provided with a slot 53 at each end thereof, and a channel member 4'! may be rigidly sup-ported beneath each slot for use of clamp-s at both ends if necessary, or the clamps may be disposed at the ends opposite to those at which they are shown.

In the third embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 12 to 15 inclusive, the supporting rails are indicated at 69 and the motor base plates at 6|.

The supporting rails each includes a base portion 62, opposite side walls 53, and top motor base plate-supporting flanges 64. Thus, the rails are substantially of U-formation, as indie. cated in Figure 15. The rails Bl! are provided with elongated apertures in their base portions as for receiving bolts in attaching the rails to a machine or bench, and the plates 6| are provided with elongated apertures s! for receiving bolts in securing the plates to a motor base, as in Figure 5. It is to be observed that the flanges 68 extend in semi-circular form around the opposite ends of the rails 60, as indicated at M in Figure 13, and such flanges merge with the base at 65'.

The base plates are provided with reinforcing flanges 6i and guiding flanges 63 which may, if desired, be provided with flaring positioning portions as in the other embodiments. I

The base plates are provided with open-ended slots 69 in their ends for receiving clamp structures it, only two of such being necessary and disposed as in Figure 12. However, a clamp Iii may be disposed in each slot if required.

Each clamp it comprises a channel member 'il disposed transversely of the associated rail and beneath the flanges 54 thereof. The head 12 of a bolt E3 is rigidly secured Within the channel of member H, and the bolt projects through an aperture in the base of channel member ll and between the flanges B4. A hand-operabl nut structure for the bolt '53 is provided, and same comprises a nut M threadedly engaged with the bolt 13 and rigidly connected with a hand-operable member l5 and a washer 16. The member [5 may be formed of a pair of straps welded at their upper ends, as indicated, and also welded at their lower ends to the nut id and washer it.

By the provision of the rounded ends on the rails es, the clamps upon loosening the nut structures it} may be readily moved along the flanges 6% to a horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 13, thereby providing for unobstructed movement of the motor base plates 6| along the rails 66.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be api7 preciatedithat a motor mountis provided whereby a number of machines or tools may be selectively driven bya single motor, which is readily transportable to and from one machine or tool to another and readily adjusted to operative position in driving association with any one of such machines or tools.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with certain specific structural embodiments thereof, such are to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the following .claims.

What Iclaim. and desire to secure by U. S. Let- 'ters Patent is:

1.:A'motor mount comprising a pair of elongated motor supporting rails having slots therein for-receiving attaching bolts in positions corresponding to the bolt receiving holes in motor bases of standard dimensions, a pair of motor base plates having slots therein for receiving bolts to'secure said plates to a motor base, cooperating guide and seating surfaces on said rails and plates including side flanges on the plates engaging the outer sides of the rails for support of the plates on the rails with capacity for free movement lengthwise thereof, and adjustable means supported by the rails and engageable with corresponding ends of the plates for limiting said movement.

2. A motor mount comprising a pair of elongated motor supporting rails having horizontal base portions and horizontal flanges in vertical spaced relation thereto, attaching means for securing the rails in parallel laterally-spaced rela-' tion in fixed position Within the standard motor base dimensions, a pair of motor base plates having apertures for receiving bolts to secure the plates to a motor base, the base plates adapted for seating engagement with said flanges, flanges on the base plates engageable with said rails outwardly of the flanges thereon for precluding lateral movement of the plates relative to the rails with capacity for free sliding movement of the plates lengthwise of the rails, and adjustable means for limiting said movement in at least one direction lengthwise of the rails.

3. A motor mount according to claim 2, wherein said adjustsable means include stops engageable with the ends of said plates and supported by the rails for adjustment lengthwise thereof.

4. A motor mount according to claim 2, wherein said adjustable means comprises releasable clamps movably supported by the base plates and operatively engageable with said flanges on the rails.

5. A motor mount according to claim 2, wherein said adjustable means comprises clamps movably supported by the rails. and including opposed gripping portions engageable with the ewe-4,778

movement lengthwise of the rails,- andadjustable means .for retaining the "base plates against sliding movement in aidirection toward the ends .of the rails adjacent a machine or tool to be driven by a motor supported on the base plates.

7. A motor mount according to claim 6, wherein said adjustable means comprise vertically disposed stop elements engageable with ends of the ber slidably supported by each base plate and operatively engageable with-the flange of the corresponding rail.

9. A motor mount according to claim 6, wherein said adjustable means comprise a clamp slidably supported by the flanges of said rails and operatively engageable with the plates adjacent certain ends thereof.

10. A motor mount according to claim 6, wherein said adjustable means comprise a clamp associated with each rail and its cooperating base plate, said clamps including bolts having vertically disposed hand-operable nut structures.

11. A motor mount comprising an elongated supporting rail member having a relatively wide attaching base, a vertically disposed side wall and a relatively narrowfiange extending from on for movement lengthwise of the rail memher, .a vertical flange at one .edge of the base plate member engageable with said vertical wall, and adjustable means carried by one of the members and engageable with the other member for retaining said plate member against movement in at least one direction lengthwise of the rail member.

12. A motor mount comprising a pair of elongated supporting rails having attaching bases and each provided with a pair of spaced flanges providing an elongated slot therebetween, a mo tor base plate freely supported on the flanges of each rail for sliding movement lengthwise thereof, each base plate having an open-ended slot in at least one end thereof and releasable clamping means supported by said rails, said clamping means being slidable in said slots when released to and from a position within the end slots in said plates, and said clamping means when moved into said slots and tightened engaging said plates to retain same in fixed position on said rails.

13. A motor mount according to claim 12, wherein said flanges are of semi-circular form at the ends of said rails providing for movement of said clamping means to an inoperative position below the base plate supporting portions of said rails.

LEONARD J. CUTHBERTSON.

REFERENCES CIT ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,211,352 Rathburn Jan. 2, 1917 1,964,542 Straube June 26, 1934 2,175,576 Smith Oct. 10, 1939 

